Frequently Asked Questions

The Truth Is In Here

Does The Word Reiki Translate To Mean "Universal Life Force Energy"?
Most modern forms of Reiki (i.e.- Western Reiki) incorrectly translates the word Reiki to mean 'Universal Life Force Energy'. What most Western Reiki teachers and aficionados fail to realize, however, is that the Japanese language changed several times over the years. One of the most drastic changes to the Japanese language would occur after WWII. Usui died before this change occured. The word Reiki to Usui Mikao translated to mean something very different than the modern post WWII 'Universal life force energy'. In his time, the word Reiki translated to the equivilent of "Spirit".

This translation derails the Western Reiki teaching that Reiki is a hand healing modality where 'universal life force energy' pours down from the heavens through the reiki practitioner into the client whereby the client is healed. Usui Mikao said that hand healing was easy to learn because it begins within us. It isn't a heavenly power, seperate from us. It is a part of who we are and we are responsible for how it is utilized.

Is Reiki A Hand Healing Modality?
Partially. Reiki is first and foremost a Spiritual / Philosophical Tradition that focuses on personal development and self empowerment. Usui Reiki Ryoho (Traditional Japanese Reiki) was taught for almost 3 years before hand healing was introduced to the Tradition. The notion of Reiki as a hand healing modality was propagated by Dr. Hayashi, Hawayo Takata's teacher. Reiki, taught as a hand healing modality is a Western Reiki concept. Again, Traditional Japanese Reiki focuses on a Spiritual / Philosophical path as well as hand healing for personal development.

Why Do People Believe Usui Mikao Was A Doctor / Christian Minister?
This bit of fiction was created by Hawayo Takata and is propagated through her system of Western Reiki, Usui Shiki Ryoho, and its variants. Shortly after Takata introduced Reiki to the United States, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. She believed that in order to $ell Reiki to the West, it would have to be made more American. The story was invented that Usui was a Christian Minister because most Americans are Christian - so he is 'one of us'. The story was invented that he was a Doctor for two reasons: (1) Doctors are seen as care-givers and healers. They are good people. (2) The title of Doctor instills the idea that the person is highly educated. It adds legitimacy to the Reiki story.

Usui Mikao was born a Buddhist, lived his life as a Buddhist and died a Buddhist. He received his formal education from a Buddhist Monestary. He had no higher learning, other than being self taught. He never received a Doctorate Degree.

What Does Tibet Have To Do With Reiki?
Nothing. This Western Reiki style was invented by a man named Arthur Robertson in the 1980's. Robertson was a student of Iris Ishikuro. Ishikuro was one of the 22 Reiki 'masters' taught by Hawayo Takata. He essentially took the Western style of Usui Shiki Ryoho and added foreign abstracts and ideas to it. Since then, several other people have picked up this style of Reiki and added their own abstracts to it. The most noteable would be William Rand and Diane Stien.

Even though I have heard that this is 'the original' Reiki style, or that it is 'more powerful', it is little more than Western Reiki mixed with foreign concepts, mostly from the new-age community with nothing to do with Tibet. Reiki is Japanese.

What Does Reiki Have To Do With The Chakras And Kundalini?
Again, Nothing. Inevetably if you sit in on any number of Reiki classes or read Reiki websites or books, you will find reference to the Chakras or Kundalini. The Chakras and Kundalini are Indian, not Japanese. These things were added to Western Reiki around the 1980's as a part of the influence of the 'New Age' movement. Traditional Japanese Reiki works with Ki, Tanden and Hara - concepts culturally congruent with Japan. The Chakras and Kundalini are foreign abstracts that were added to Reiki.

This move was adopted in order to explain how Reiki hand healing works. Most Western Reiki practitioners do not fully understand Reiki hand healing and need a way to conceptualize it. Many people believe that they understand the Chakras and have adopted it to explain the healing phenomonon.

What Are Spirit Guides And How Do They Relate To Reiki?
'Spirit guides' are a Native American concept and have nothing to do with Traditional Japanese Reiki. Spirit guides were introduced to Western Reiki in the 1980's, again, as part of the 'new age' movement.

What Is A Reiki Master?
In Western Reiki the teacher is often referred to as a Reiki 'master'. Open any 'new age' directory and you will inevetably find no shortage of Reiki 'masters'. With Western Reiki having no standards of teaching, no standard body of knowledge and no central body to recognize legitimacy, what are they masters of and by who's authority? The typical amount of training required to become a Reiki 'master' averages between 3 and 12 hours, with certifiicates printed on home computers. You can even become a Reiki master with no training what-so-ever over the internet by paying $59.99 and receiving a distance Reiki master attunement by someone you will never meet! For an additional $10.00 you can even get a certificate that proves it! I even know of a Reiki master who's only training was reading a book. Now he teaches Reiki.

The word 'master' is a mistranslation of the Japanese language. The Japanese word for teacher is Shihan. Another word to denote a teacher in the Japanese language is Sensei and is often used in the martial arts community. Neither of these two words translate to mean 'master' however. In Traditional Japanese Reiki the word 'master' is not used. A person cannot master Reiki. Reiki is the practice of life itself. We cannot master it, we can only learn how to work our will within its confines.

When Usui Mikao first established his system in the early 1920's, it had 13 levels or degrees. He placed himself at level 12 as an act of humility. He did this with the hopes that one of his students would move beyond his level of understanding and achieve true enlightenment. When Usui Mikao died in 1926, the highest level was retired out of respect for him. No one would ever achieve this level. Interesting just how many people today believe they have mastered Reiki.

In comparison, the average Traditional Japanese Reiki Level 1 practitioner has a better understanding of what Reiki is than most Western Reiki 'masters'. Again, what makes a Reiki 'master'?